Bellows type dispensing tip, bellows type dispensing apparatus and method of bellows type dispensing processing

ABSTRACT

There is provided a bellows type dispensing tip, a bellows type dispensing apparatus, and a method of bellows type dispensing processing that performs highly precise dispensing processing despite having a simple structure. The apparatus comprises; two or more bellows type dispensing tips having; an accommodating section that is capable of accommodating a liquid or gas in the interior thereof surrounded by a wall face, and that has a deformable deforming wall face in a portion of the wall face, and an opening section communicated with the accommodating section, through which the liquid to be suctioned/discharged can flow in and flow out due to expansion and contraction of the interior caused by deformation of the deforming wall face; and a dispensing head that supports the bellows type dispensing tips, and that performs suction/discharge of the liquid into or from the bellows type dispensing tip, by deforming the deforming wall face.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/160,777, which is a United States national phase application ofinternational patent application number PCT/JP2007/050397, filed Jan.15, 2007, which claims priority to Japanese patent application No.2006-051210, filed Feb. 27, 2006, and Japanese patent application No.2006-005870, filed Jan. 13, 2006, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a bellows type dispensing tip, abellows type dispensing apparatus, and a method of bellows typedispensing processing.

BACKGROUND ART

Heretofore there is known a patented dispensing apparatus, the patentapplication of which was filed by the applicant of the present patentapplication. In this dispensing apparatus a dispensing tip is fitted andattached to a dispensing tip attachment opening in a bottom end sectionof a nozzle, and a plunger within a cylinder that communicates with thenozzle is slid, to thereby suction or discharge a liquid into thedispensing tip through the bottom end thereof (Patent Document 1 toPatent Document 4).

However, the mechanisms of the cylinder, the plunger, and the like, usedin the above dispensing apparatus are components manufactured at a highlevel of precision such as an injection syringe. In particular,variation in the inner capacity of the cylinder basically corresponds tovariation in the inner capacity of the dispensing tip, and it isnecessary to transmit such that there is no looseness in the joiningsection between the plunger and the driving apparatus of the plunger.Moreover, the suctioning/discharging mechanism and the dispensing tipare fitted together so that there is no leakage of gas or liquid.Consequently, there is concern that a high level of product qualitymanagement is needed. Furthermore, there is a problem in that since acylinder with a capacity corresponding to the capacity of the dispensingtip is needed to control suction and discharge of the dispensing tip, alarger apparatus is needed in order to cope with liquid of a largevolume.

On the other hand, heretofore there is known a dropper that is capableof accommodating liquid or gas in the interior thereof surrounded bywall faces made of rubber or the like, and that suctions or dischargesthe liquid when the wall faces are deformed by manually pressing.However, since this dropper is operated manually, a single user can onlyoperate one dropper, and consequently simultaneous processing cannot beperformed using a number of droppers. Moreover, since deformation in thedropper differs depending on the magnitude of the operating force, thedirection of the force, and the position where the force is applied, itis difficult with manual operation of the dropper to performquantitively precise processing, and repeat such processing at a highlevel of reproducibility.

As a remedial measure, there is a method of performing direct transferfrom container to container without use of a dispensing tip. However,while this method simplifies the structure of the apparatus, asufficient number of operators are required. Moreover there is a problemof the possibility of contamination due to container to containercontact, so that reliability is not high.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3115501

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 3739953

Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent No. 3630493

Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent No. 3682302

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Consequently, in order to solve the above problems, a first object ofthe present invention is to provided a bellows type dispensing tip, abellows type dispensing apparatus, and a method of bellows typedispensing processing that are highly precise despite their simple andcompact structure, and that are capable of handling liquid in variousvolumes (from approximately several μ liters to approximately several 10milliliters), and efficiently performing processing. A second object ofthe present invention is to provide a bellows type dispensing tip, abellows type dispensing apparatus, and a method of bellows typedispensing processing that do not require a high level of precision forwater-tightness, air-tightness, and the like in manufacturing andproduct quality management, and that can be inexpensively provided,reduce management load, and reliably prevent cross contamination. Athird object of the present invention is to provide a bellows typedispensing tip, a bellows type dispensing apparatus, and a method ofbellows type dispensing processing capable of consistently automatingvarious kinds of complex processings.

Means for Solving the Problems

A first aspect of the present invention is a bellows type dispensingapparatus comprising: one or two or more bellows type dispensing tipshaving; an accommodating section that is capable of accommodating aliquid or gas in the interior thereof surrounded by a wall face, andthat has a deforming wall face in a portion of the wall face capable ofpredetermined deformation without practically changing an entire surfacearea of the wall face, and an opening section communicated with theaccommodating section, through which a liquid to be suctioned/dischargedcan flow in/flow out in due to expansion and contraction of the interiorcaused by deformation of the deforming wall face; and a dispensing headthat supports one or GHCVB/ASDFGH1 two or more of the bellows typedispensing tips so that the opening section does not move due todeformation of the deforming wall face, and that performssuction/discharge of the liquid into or from the bellows type dispensingtip at once, by deforming the deforming wall face of the bellows typedispensing tip at once.

Here, the “deforming wall face” refers to a flexible wall face capableof being deformed, and for which the surface area of the deforming wallface does not change due to the deformation. Therefore, in a wall facehaving the deforming wall face incorporated therein, the entire surfacearea does not change due to the deformation. “A portion of the wallface” refers, for example, to a wall face portion of the entire wallface of the accommodating section excluding a portion in close proximityto the opening section, and between the wall face portion and theopening section there is provided a non-deforming wall face that doesnot deform.

Moreover, it is preferable that the “predetermined deformation” of thedeforming wall face be a deformation that practically sets an internalcapacity according to the degree of deformation to be applied. That isto say, it is preferable that the interior surrounded by the wall faceexpand or contract according to the degree that the deforming wall faceis pushed or pulled, or that the force is removed, along a certaindeformation direction, thereby uniformly setting the capacity of theinterior.

The deforming wall face may be biased in the direction of expansion orcontraction of the interior due to the deformation. If the deformingwall face is biased in the expanding direction, it is contracted byapplying a force in the direction opposite to that of the expansion, andis deformed in the expanding direction by removing the force. If thedeforming wall face is biased in the contracting direction, it isexpanded by applying a force in the direction opposite to that of thecontraction, and is deformed in the contracting direction by removingthe force. The deforming wall face refers to a wall face having abellows formed therein, or a wall face that is formed with an elasticsheet member or film member such as rubber, or that is formed with aflexible sheet member or film member such as a wall face having abuilt-in spring with an elastic force in the deforming direction.

The “suction/discharge” refers to suctioning and/or discharging. Thematerial of the bellows type dispensing tip is a resin such aspolyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyester resin, polystyreneresin, polyvinyl resin, and acrylic resin, an elastic body such asrubber, an other type of flexible material, or a combination of thesematerials. It is preferable that the bellows type dispensing tip betransparent or semi-transparent.

“The bellows type dispensing tip is supported so that the openingsection does not move due to deformation of the deforming wall face”means that the bellows type dispensing tip is attached to the dispensinghead so that the position and the shape of the opening section does notpractically change due to deformation of the deforming wall face. Thisis because, unlike the case of a cylinder type dispensing tip having aseparately formed plunger and opening section that slide when performinga suction/discharge, in this bellows type dispensing tip, the deformingwall face that deforms when performing a suction/discharge, and theopening section, are provided as continuous members. For example, thesupporting position of the tip such as the position of the tip to beattached or fixed to the dispensing head is in the non-deforming wallface that does not deform, other than the deforming wall face, providedbetween the opening section and the deforming wall face so as not todeform. It is preferable that the opening section is supported so as toface downward.

The size of the bellows type dispensing tip is, for example, such thatthe length along the opening section through to the attachment openingsection, or in the axial direction is from several centimeters toseveral tens of centimeters, and the capacity thereof is for examplefrom several micro-liters to several tens of milliliters, depending onthe above length. The amount of suction/discharge is, for example,approximately from several micro-liters to several tens of milliliters,depending on the capacity.

A second aspect of the present invention is a bellows type dispensingapparatus further comprising a container set having a plurality ofcontainers capable of accommodating various kinds of liquid solutions,and a head moving section that relatively moves the dispensing head withrespect to the container set, and the opening section can be insertedinto the container at once. In this case, if the opening section issupported so as to face downward, a suction, discharge, and transfer ofa liquid can be smoothly performed. “Liquid solutions” include liquidscontaining various kinds of reagents, specimens, chemical substances, ormagnetic materials. “Container” includes a container provided with aplurality of liquid accommodating sections, each of which is provided ina position corresponding to the opening section.

A third aspect of the present invention is a bellows type dispensingapparatus wherein the dispensing head has; a tip supporting sectioncapable of supporting two or more of the bellows type dispensing tips,and a movable mechanism that deforms the deforming wall face of thebellows type dispensing tip at once with use of a movable member capableof forward/backward operation at once along a deforming direction of thedeforming wall face.

The movable member deforms the deforming wall face by performingforward/backward movements in a state of being in contact with, being incontact with and separated from, or being connected to the accommodatingsection. In order to support the bellows type dispensing tip, it ispreferable in the view of process control that the bellows typedispensing tip is supported so as to prevent movement against the forcesin two directions, namely the internal expanding direction andcontracting direction, applied by the movable member, so that theportion of the bellows type dispensing tip other than the deforming wallface, particularly the position of the opening section, does not movedue to the deformation. This is because, in the case of the bellows typedispensing tip, the deformation wall face and the other portions areintegrated or connected continuously. In order for this to be realized,the bellows type dispensing tip is supported so as to be sandwichedalong the deformable direction. For example, if the deformationdirection is in the vertical direction, it is preferable that thebellows type dispensing tip or one portion thereof be supported whilebeing sandwiched from above and below.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a bellows type dispensingapparatus, wherein the dispensing head or the container set has amagnetic device capable exerting or removing a magnetic field on or fromthe interior of the accommodating section or the container.Consequently, when suctioning or discharging a suspension containing anumber of magnetic materials that hold biological compounds such as; aprotein, a peptide, an amino acid, DNA, RNA, an oligonucleotide, and asugar chain, into or from the bellows type dispensing tip, or whenstoring such suspension in the bellows type dispensing tip, it ispossible to exert a magnetic field on the interior of the tip so as toattach the magnetic materials to the inner wall of the tip, and separatethe magnetic materials, and hence the biological compounds.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a bellows type dispensingapparatus having a control section that controls deformation of thedeforming wall face and/or movement between the dispensing head and thecontainer set, based on the number or structure of the bellows typedispensing tip, a liquid to be suctioned/discharged, a substancecontained in the liquid, an amount, an accommodating position, atemperature or concentration of the liquid, processing contents, orinstructions. The above substance includes biological materials such asnucleic acid, proteins, sugar chains, and amino acids, as well asvarious kinds of chemical substances including metallic materials.Moreover, “liquid” includes a solution and suspension. The suspensionincludes, for example, a suspension of a magnetic material capable ofbonding with various kinds of substances by a reaction, or that isbonded by a reaction.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is a bellows type dispensingapparatus wherein a predetermined reference position for deformation ofthe deforming wall face is set, and control of deformation of thedeforming wall face is performed with the reference position as areference.

Here, the “predetermined reference position” is determined according tofactors including the amount of a liquid to be handled in processing,the capacity of the bellows type dispensing tip to be used, theprocessing contents, and the finishing precision of the bellows typedispensing tip.

For example, in the case where the amount of liquid to be handled inprocessing is very small (for example, in the case of an order fromseveral μ liters to several 100μ liters), and the capacity of thebellows type dispensing tip to be used is small, if the processingrequires a high level of precision, or if the level of finishingprecision of the bellows type dispensing tip is not high, then as areference position, a position along the deformation direction of themovable member or the deforming wall face in a condition with thebellows type dispensing tip already subjected to a predetermineddeformation, is made a reference. Accordingly, the control can beperformed at a high level of precision. In this case, for example, it ispreferable to set so that all of a predetermined maximum suction amountof the liquid that flows into the dispensing tip due to a predeterminedmaximum deformation amount can be discharged. As a result, it ispossible to prevent the liquid from being left inside the bellows typedispensing tip when discharging liquid from the bellows type dispensingtip.

For example, in the case where, with the predetermined internal capacityof the bellows type dispensing tip as V0, and taking the position of themovable member or the deforming wall face corresponding to this state asa reference, the predetermined maximum internal capacity due todeformation of the bellows type dispensing tip is V1, and thepredetermined minimum internal capacity due to deformation of thebellows type dispensing tip is V2 (V1>V0>V2), then it is preferable toset the reference position so as to give a relationship where thepredetermined maximum suction amount of the liquid that flows into thedispensing tip (V1−V0) is smaller than the predetermined maximum amount(V0−V2), that is, V1−V0≦V0−V2, that is, (V1+V2)/2≦V0).

Here, since the maximum deformation amount is a “predetermined maximumdeformation amount”, it does not have to be a physically maximum amount.Since “the entire maximum suction amount can be discharged”, the“maximum discharge amount” needs to be an amount greater than or equalto the “maximum suction amount”. As a result, processing can beperformed without worrying about the remaining amount of the liquidinside the bellows type dispensing tip.

On the other hand, if the amount of liquid to be handled is large (forexample, in the order of several milliliters), or if the processing doesnot require a very high level of precision, it is possible to performcontrol with a position of a non-deforming state where the bellows typedispensing tip is not deformed as a reference. Such a case refers to thecase where, for example, in a state where the movable member has notcome into contact with the bellows type dispensing tip, a position alongthe deformation direction (for example, a position 1 millimeter awayfrom the tip) is taken as the reference position.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is a bellows type dispensingapparatus wherein a bellows is formed in the deforming wall face.

Here, the “bellows” refers to a sheet member or a film member formedwith waves or folds having peaks and valleys formed along a crosswisedirection substantially perpendicular to a predetermined deformationdirection, and that can bend at the peaks and valleys. In the case wherethe sheet or film member formed with the bellows is used for thecylindrical shaped surrounding wall face having its axis in thedeformation direction, the shape of the waves or folds comprises acircumferential shaped or closed curved line shaped (a curved line alsoincludes a straight line) peaks and valleys included in a straight lineperpendicular to the deformation direction, or in a plane perpendicularto the deformation direction.

The bellows is formed for example, so that the entire wall face of theaccommodating section is separated into two across the deformationdirection of the bellows. Therefore, the deformation directionsubstantially matches the normal line direction of each plane thatincludes each of the peaks and valleys of the waves or folds of thebellows.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is a bellows type dispensingapparatus wherein the opening section is provided at a bottom end of thebellows type dispensing tip, the accommodating section is provided abovethe opening section, the deforming wall face capable of deforming in thevertical direction, is provided in one portion of the wall face thatsurrounds the accommodating section so as to separate the inner wallface into an upper and lower portion, and a top end of the accommodatingsection, and the movable member can be brought in contact with eachother or connected to each other.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is a bellows type dispensingapparatus wherein the accommodating section has: a deforming sectioncapable of accommodating a gas, that can be brought in contact with orconnected to the movable member, and that has a deforming wall face thatcan be deformed by the movable member; and a non-deforming sectioncapable of accumulating a liquid, that communicates with the deformingsection, that is formed with a non-deforming wall face that does notdeform, and that has an opening section on a tip end thereof.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is a bellows type dispensingapparatus wherein the dispensing head or the container set has a tiparrangement holding section that can detachably hold a plurality of thebellows type dispensing tips arranged in a line arrangement or in aplane arrangement at predetermined intervals. The “plane” arrangement,for example, includes a grid arrangement, a circumferential arrangement,and a multiple concentric circle arrangement.

The “grid” arrangement has a column direction and a row direction,however these two directions do not necessarily have to be orthogonal toeach other. A single column arrangement and a single row arrangement arealso special grid arrangements. The “predetermined intervals” are givenintervals so as to correspond to the liquid accommodating section ofeach container provided in the container set. There may be prepared thetip arrangement holding section having various types of pitches andnumbers, according to the number, types, and amount of the liquidsolutions to be handled.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is a bellows type dispensingapparatus wherein the tip supporting section of the dispensing headsupports a plurality of the bellows type dispensing tips by attaching atip arrangement holding section that can detachably hold a plurality ofthe bellows type dispensing tips arranged in a line arrangement or in aplane arrangement at predetermined intervals, while allowing eachbellows type dispensing tip to deform. In order to allow thisdeformation, for example, the tip arrangement holding section needs tobe attached in a position that enables the movable member of thedispensing head to deform the deforming section of the bellows typedispensing tip.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention is a bellows type dispensingapparatus wherein: the bellows type dispensing tip has the openingsection and the accommodating section; the accommodating section has adeforming section capable of accommodating a gas, that can be brought incontact with or connected to the movable member, and that has adeforming wall face that can be deformed by the movable member; and anon-deforming section capable of accumulating a liquid, thatcommunicates with the deforming section, that is formed with anon-deforming wall face that does not deform, and that has the openingsection on a tip end thereof. The tip arrangement holding section has aplate provided with a plurality of through holes in a line or planearrangement and pierced at predetermined intervals; each of the bellowstype dispensing tips is inserted into and held in each of the throughholes; the opening section of the bellows type dispensing tip isinserted through the through hole to be brought below the plate; and thedeforming section of the accommodating section is held so as to bebrought above the plate.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is a bellows typedispensing apparatus wherein the bellows type dispensing tip has aninterior detection region, and in the dispensing head there is provideda light detection section for detecting a state of the interior, throughthe interior detection region. Therefore, the interior detection regionis provided such that when the interior detection region of the bellowstype dispensing tip is present below the plate, the light detectionsection is also present below the plate. Here, the “interior detectionregion” is such that the side face thereof is formed in a plane facerather than a curved face so as to enable irradiation and transmissionof light into the interior to be performed easily, thereby preventingdiffused reflection of the light and prevent the occurrence of a bend orthe like in the tip. For example, the “state of the interior” on a planeface includes the presence of a liquid and the presence of a liquidlevel. Here, the “interior detection region” refers to a region in thebellows type dispensing tip formed to attain a transmissivity of lightgreater than that of the surrounding region.

A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is a bellows typedispensing apparatus wherein the tip arrangement holding section isprovided with a plurality of loose insertion sections for looselyinserting and holding the bellows type dispensing tip therein, for eachof the respective bellows type dispensing tips to be held. Examples ofthe loose insertion sections include a cylinder, a plurality of rods,nets, and tubes, formed so as to surround the bellows type dispensingtips.

A fifteenth aspect of the present invention is a bellows type dispensingapparatus wherein the magnetic device has a plurality of magnetsprovided so as to be able to come into contact with and separate fromeach accommodating section of one or more of the bellows type dispensingtips at once.

For example, in the case where the dispensing head has the tipsupporting section, and the tip supporting section supports a pluralityof the bellows type dispensing tips by attaching the tip arrangementholding section capable of detachably holding a plurality of the bellowstype dispensing tips arranged in a grid at predetermined intervals whileallowing the respective bellows type dispensing tips to deform, themagnetic device has: at least (number of columns−1) or (number ofrows−1) of comb teeth members that are provided so as to be able torelatively move in the column direction or row direction of the bellowstype dispensing tips that can be arranged in the grid, and that areprovided extending along the column direction or the row direction andprovided corresponding to the predetermined intervals and with a widththat respectively enables insertion of the dispensing tips in betweenthe columns or rows; and a supporting member that connects to one endside of each comb teeth member, and each comb teeth member is providedwith magnets, as many as the number of the columns or rows, arranged atthe predetermined intervals in positions corresponding to the respectivebellows type dispensing tips. In the case of exerting a magnetic fieldon the bellows type dispensing tips, all of the magnets may be moved soas to be brought to positions with shortest distances from all of therespective bellows type dispensing tips, and in the case of removing themagnetic field, all of the magnets may be completely evacuated from thetip arrangement holding section in which the bellows type dispensingtips are arranged, or the respective magnets may be moved tointermediate positions of the predetermined intervals of the bellowstype dispensing tips.

A sixteenth aspect of the present invention is a bellows type dispensingtip comprising: an accommodating section that is capable ofaccommodating a liquid or gas in the interior thereof surrounded by awall face and that has a deforming wall face in one portion of the wallface, capable of predetermined deformation without practically changinga total internal surface area of the wall face; and an opening sectionthat is communicated with the accommodating section and that enablesinflow/outflow of a liquid suctioned/discharged by expansion andcontraction of the interior caused by deformation of the deforming wallface, wherein: the opening section is provided at a bottom end of thebellows type dispensing tip; the deforming wall face is formed in oneportion of the wall face surrounding the accommodating section so as tobe able to deform in the vertical direction; and the accommodatingsection has; a deforming section capable of accommodating a gas, that isprovided above the opening section, and that has the deforming wallface, and a non-deforming section capable of accumulating a liquid, thatcommunicates with the deforming section, that does not have thedeforming wall face, and that has the opening section on a tip end.

Here, the accommodating section is, for example, formed with the abovementioned resin, and the deforming wall face is, for example, such thatthe deforming section provided with the bellows is formed by means ofblow molding, and the non-deforming section is formed by means ofinjection molding. Alternatively, both of the deforming section and thenon-deforming section are found by means of blow molding. The “deformingwall face” is as described in the first aspect of the present invention.

A seventeenth aspect of the present invention is a bellows typedispensing tip wherein the non-deforming section has: a thick tubesection that communicates with the deforming section; a thin tubesection having the opening section; and a transitional section formedbetween the thick tube section and the thin tube section.

Here, the shape of the “transitional section” is, for example, formed ina conical shape, a funnel shape, or a step shape. Moreover, the shape ofthe thick tube section and the thin tube section is not limited to acylindrical shape, and it may be a rectangular column shape, a polygonalshape, a conical shape, a prismoid shape, or a polygonal prismoid shape.

Furthermore, it is possible, with the tip end of the thin tube sectionformed in a tapered or sharp shape, to pierce the film of a pre-packedtype reagent accommodating container, the opening section of which iscoated with the film, pre-accommodating a liquid solution that containsa reagent or specimen therein, to thereby suction the liquidaccommodated within the container through the thin tube section.

An eighteenth aspect of the present invention is a bellows typedispensing tip, wherein the thick tube section, the deforming section,and the transitional section are integrally formed, and a top endsection of the thin tube section is attached to a bottom end section ofthe transitional section.

Here, the tip end section of the thin tube section is, for example,fitted to the bottom end section of the transitional section, and isattached using an adhesive, thermal welding, ultrasonic welding, or thelike. Therefore, the material that may be used for the thin tube sectionincludes a material, such as a metallic material, polypropylene, andpolystyrene, that is harder than the soft material for forming theportion containing the deforming section, such as polyethylene andpolyester. The portion other than the thin tube section, that is, theportion in which the thick tube section, the deforming section and thetransitional section are integrally formed, may be formed by blowmolding, and the thin tube section may be formed by injection molding.

A nineteenth aspect of the present invention is a bellows typedispensing tip, further having a holder for loose insertion and holdingof the accommodating section, and the holder has an upper side openingsection provided on an upper side thereof and a lower side openingsection that enables the opening section to be externally exposed.

Moreover, the holder may be such that in order to allow the bellows typedispensing tip to come into contact with or be connected with themovable member in a state of being loosely inserted in the holder, themovable member is inserted through the upper side opening section orthrough a slit provided in the side face of the holder, so as to be incontact with or be connected with the accommodating section.

Here, the lower side opening section is preferably, for example,provided so as to allow the thin tube section to project.

A twentieth aspect of the present invention is a bellows type dispensingtip, wherein the non-deforming section is provided with an interiordetection region interposed between transparent flat plate side facesparallel with each other.

A twenty-first aspect of the present invention is a method of bellowstype dispensing processing comprising: a supporting step for supportinga plurality of bellows type dispensing tips having; an accommodatingsection that is capable of accommodating a liquid or gas in the interiorthereof surrounded by a wall face, and that has a deforming wall face ina portion of the wall face, capable of a predetermined deformationwithout practically changing an entire surface area of the wall face,and an opening section communicated with the accommodating section,through which liquid to be suctioned/discharged can flow in and flow outdue to expansion and contraction of the interior caused by deformationof the deforming wall face, on a dispensing head so that the openingsection does not move due to deformation of the deforming wall face; amoving step for moving the dispensing head; and a deforming step forinserting the opening section into a container and deforming thedeforming wall face at once.

Here, in the deforming step, it is preferable to detect a state of theinterior of the bellows type dispensing tip, and detect the presence ofthe liquid inside the tip and a liquid level, to thereby detect whetheror not an instructed processing is being performed.

A twenty-second aspect of the present invention is a method of bellowstype dispensing processing, wherein the supporting step is performed byattaching a tip arrangement holding section capable of detachablyholding a plurality of the bellows type dispensing tips arranged in aline or in a plane face at predetermined intervals, to the dispensinghead while allowing each of the bellows type dispensing tips to deform.

A twenty-third aspect of the present invention is a method of bellowstype dispensing processing, wherein the deforming step sets apredetermined reference position along the deforming direction in whichthe deforming wall face is deformed, and deforms the deforming wallface, taking the above reference position as a reference. The example ofthe “predetermined reference position” has been described in the sixthaspect of the present invention.

A twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention is a method of bellowstype dispensing processing, wherein: the above opening section isprovided at a bottom end of the bellows type dispensing tip; thedeforming wall face is provided in a portion of a wall face surroundingthe accommodating section so as to be able to deform in the verticaldirection; the accommodating section has; a deforming section capable ofaccommodating a gas, that is provided above the opening section, andthat has the deforming wall face, and a non-deforming section capable ofaccumulating a liquid, that communicates with the deforming section,that does not have the deforming wall face, and that has the openingsection; and the deforming step has a step for contacting or connectinga movable member with or to a top end face of the accommodating section,and a step for lowering and/or raising the movable member.

A twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention is a method of bellowstype dispensing processing, wherein raising and lowering of the movablemember is performed by setting a predetermined reference position alongthe vertical direction in which the deforming wall face is deformed, andthen using the reference position as a reference. The example of the“predetermined reference position” has been described in the sixthaspect of the present invention.

A twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention is a method of bellowstype dispensing processing, wherein in the above liquid, a magneticmaterial that can bond with a predetermined substance or that has beenbonded with a predetermined substance is suspended, and the magneticmaterial is attached to an inner wall of the accommodating section orthe container and separated, by exerting a magnetic field on theaccommodating section or a container of the container set. In order toplace a particular emphasis on a case of having two or more of thebellows type dispensing tips, the bellows type dispensing apparatus mayalso be called a bellows type integrated processing apparatus, and themethod of bellows type dispensing processing may also be called a methodof bellows type integrated processing.

Effects of the Invention

According to the first, sixteenth, and twenty-first aspects of thepresent invention, by mechanically deforming the deforming wall face,the liquid can be suctioned and discharged. Therefore, without use of afluid dynamic system, for example, a complex tube passage such as acylinder for streaming a liquid or gas, it is possible to performdispensing processing while reducing the size of the apparatus andsimplifying the structure of the apparatus. As a result, it is possibleto perform manufacturing inexpensively and easily. Moreover, since useof a cylinder or the like is not required, it is possible to handle aliquid of a large volume, despite the compact size of the apparatus.

Furthermore, since processing of a liquid such as suctioning anddischarging is performed by deforming the deforming wall face withoutchanging the total inner surface area of the wall face, the membersconstituting the wall face do not have to be fitted with or slid on eachother. As a result, without the need of a high level of finishingprecision for fitting or sliding these members, perfect water-tightnessand air-tightness can be attained, cross contamination can be reliablyprevented, and highly reliable dispensing processing can be performed.Moreover, since suctioning/discharging can be performed without use of acylinder, it is possible to handle liquid of a large volume, despite thecompact size of the apparatus.

Furthermore, the bellows type dispensing tip is supported so as toprevent the movement of the opening section caused by a force appliedfor deforming the deforming wall face. Moreover a plurality of thebellows type dispensing tips can be deformed all at once under the sameconditions. Therefore it is possible to perform precise position controland highly reproducible suctioning/discharging control, even with use ofthe bellows type dispensing tips. Moreover, even with use of the bellowstype dispensing tips, a number of processings can be parallellyperformed to achieve a high level of efficiency, and even in the casewhere a number of containers are closely arranged, highly reliableprocessing can be performed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, bypre-accommodating a required reagent in the container, it is possible toeasily automate dispensing processing.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, with only use ofa mechanical mechanism, which does not come in contact with a processingsubject gas/liquid, for moving the movable member along the deformingdirection, it is possible to perform liquid processing such assuctioning, discharging, transferring or the like. Therefore the portionthat can come into contact with the liquid is substantially limited tothe container and a closed space within the tip, and accordinglycontamination can be reliably prevented.

According to the fourth and twenty-sixth aspects of the presentinvention, since a magnetic field is exerted on and removed from theinterior of the accommodating section or the container, by attaching themagnetic material in the liquid containing a magnetic materialsuspension to the inner wall and thus separating, it is possible toconsistently automate the processing including the separationprocessing.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the deformationof the deforming wall face and/or the movement of the dispensing head iscontrolled based on the structure of the bellows type dispensing tip,and therefore suctioning/discharging can be reliably performed.

According to the sixth, twenty-third, and twenty-fifth aspects of theinvention, control of deformation is performed based on a referenceposition at which at least either an internal expansion or a contractioncaused by the wall face deformation is possible. Therefore for example,in the case where an internal expansion and contraction due to thedeformation are both possible, it is possible to immediately addressboth expansion and contraction, and a quick and efficient processing canbe performed. In this case, the deformation is often constant, andtherefore a highly precise control can be performed. Moreover, byappropriately setting the reference position, it is possible to preventthe liquid from being left inside the bellows type dispensing tip whendischarging the liquid.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a bellows isformed as the deforming wall face. Therefore a wall face having a highdeforming rate can be formed with a simple construction. Moreover, sincethe bellows can be formed with a rigid member, it is highly resistant todamage. Furthermore, there are defined a constant position and directionat and in which a bend is formed by deformation, and therefore thedeformation is highly regular and the pattern of deformation is highlyconstant.

According to the eighth and twenty-fourth aspects of the presentinvention, the deformation can be performed by bringing the movablemember in contact with or connecting it with the top end of theaccommodating section, and therefore the structure of the bellows typedispensing apparatus is simple while providing ease of use. Moreover,since the deformation direction is provided in the vertical direction,it is possible to ensure a large difference in the internal capacity ofthe accommodating section between the state of the deforming wall facebeing deformed for the maximum internal capacity and the state of thedeforming wall face being deformed for the minimum internal capacity,without increasing the diameter or the horizontal cross-section area. Asa result, an operating region can be formed in a compact size.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a gas isaccommodated in the deforming section that has a deforming wall face,and an introduced liquid is accumulated in the non-deforming sectionthat does not have a deforming wall face. Therefore, the introducedliquid is not influenced by the deformation of the deforming wall face,and it is possible to prevent the liquid from being attached and left onthe deforming wall face. As a result, highly reliable quantitativeprocessing can be performed.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, by pre-providingas a unit a plurality of the bellows type dispensing tips arranged inthe tip arrangement holding section, on the dispensing head or thecontainer set, and allowing it to move, the bellows type dispensing tipscan be quickly replaced, and the efficiency of the processing can beimproved.

According to the eleventh and twenty-second aspects of the presentinvention, a plurality of the bellows type dispensing tips are attachedto the dispensing head as units of the tip arrangement holding sectionto thereby handle the bellows type dispensing tips. Therefore it ispossible to collectively handle a large number of the bellows typedispensing tips easily.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, a plurality ofthrough holes are provided in the plate that serves as the tiparrangement holding section, and the bellows type dispensing tips areinserted into and held in the through holes. Therefore, the bellows typedispensing tips can be easily arranged.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the stateof the interior of the bellows type dispensing tip is detected toascertain the presence and level of the liquid to determine whether ornot suctioning/discharging is being precisely performed as instructed.As a result, highly reliable processing can be performed.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, therespective bellows type dispensing tips are loosely inserted and held,and the deformation of each bellows type dispensing tip is therebyregulated in the predetermined deformation direction. As a result, amore precise control can be performed.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, it ispossible to provide a magnet so as to be able to come into closeproximity to and move away from each accommodating section of thebellows type dispensing tip at once. Therefore, with a simple structure,it is possible to apply magnetic fields to the respective bellows typedispensing tips at once.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, theopening section is provided on the thin tube section, and therefore itcan be inserted into various types of containers to perform suctioning,transferring, and discharging of a liquid, while it is suitable forautomation and is easy to handle. Moreover, by forming the thin tubesection in a tapered or sharp shape and providing it with rigidity, theneven in the case of handling a pre-packed type container thatpre-accommodates and film-seals a liquid solution such as reagenttherein, it is possible to directly pierce the film and suction theliquid solution such as a reagent inside the container, therebypreventing contamination and realizing a high level of reliability.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the thintube section is formed as a separate body from the transitional section,and is attached to the transitional section, thereby forming the bellowstype dispensing tip. Consequently the thin tube section can be formedusing a hard material rather than a soft material such as used for thedeforming section. Therefore at the time of manufacture, it is possibleto prevent a bend in the thin tube section due to the softness of thematerial and its shape being thinner than that of other portions. As aresult, it is possible to provide bellows type dispensing tips with verysmall variation in their shape, thereby enabling highly reliableprocessing.

According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, byproviding a holder through and in which the accommodating section is tobe loosely inserted and held, then even if a deforming wall face isprovided, the deforming wall face is externally held. Therefore when thedeforming wall face is deformed, this can be guided so as to allowdeformation of the deforming wall face in a predetermined constantpattern. As a result, processing can be performed with a high level ofquantitative reliability.

According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, the thintube section is provided so as to project from the holder, and thereforeprocessing can be performed while the accommodating section is beingloosely inserted in the holder. Moreover, the thin tube section can besupported more firmly, and therefore shifting of positions caused bydeformation of the deforming wall face can be suppressed, and processingcan be performed with an even higher level of reliability.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Next, a bellows type dispensing tip and a bellows type dispensingapparatus that uses the bellows type dispensing tip according toembodiments of the present invention are described, with reference tothe drawings.

FIG. 1 (a) conceptually shows a bellows type dispensing tip 11 accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention being supported on adispensing head 70 of a bellows type dispensing apparatus 10 describedlater. In the bellows type dispensing tip 11, there are provided: asubstantially cylindrical shaped longitudinal accommodating section (14,15) having an axis thereof along the vertical direction, that is capableof accommodating a liquid or gas within the interior thereof surroundedby a substantially cylindrical shaped wall face, and that has a bellows12 serving as a deformable deforming wall face in a portion of the wallface; and an opening section 13 provided so as to surround the axisthereof at the bottom end of the accommodating section, thatcommunicates with the accommodating section (14, 15) and that enablesinflow and outflow therethrough of a liquid suctioned or discharged bydeformation of the bellows 12.

The bellows 12 is deformably provided in a portion of the wall face ofthe accommodating section (14, 15) so as to separate the wall face intoan upper portion and lower portion, and with the vertical direction asthe deformation direction. Respective peaks (nine peaks in this example)and valleys (eight valleys in this example) of the waveform or folds ofthe bellows 12 are formed perpendicular to the above vertical direction,and each of the valleys and peaks forms a circumference in each of theirhorizontal planes. The accommodating section (14, 15) has a deformingsection 14 having the bellows 12 and capable of accommodating a gas, anda non-deforming section 15 that communicates with the deforming section14, that does not have the bellows 12 as the deforming wall face, thathas the opening section 13 on the tip end thereof, and that is capableof accumulating a liquid therein.

A top end face 12 a on the top end of the deforming section 14 isprovided so as to be able to come in contact with a presser plate 20that corresponds to a movable member of the dispensing head 70 of thebellows type dispensing apparatus 10 described later, on which thebellows type dispensing tip 11 is supported, and it is moved verticallyby the vertical movement of the presser plate 20 so that the bellows 12expands and contracts in the vertical direction. Moreover, on the bottomend of a lower section 12 b of the deforming section 14, there isprovided a step portion. By means of this step portion the bellows typedispensing tip 11 is supported by the horizontal supporting plate 19 ofthe dispensing head 70. The non-deforming section 15 of the bellows typedispensing tip 11 passes through a hole provided in the horizontalsupporting plate 19 so as to project downward from the horizontalsupporting plate 19.

The non-deforming section 15 has: a substantially cylindrical shapedthick tube section 16 that communicates with the deforming section 14and that connects to the lower section 12 b on the upper side thereof; asubstantially cylindrical shaped thin tube section 18 having the openingsection 13 on the bottom end thereof; and a funnel shaped transitionalsection 17 that connects between the thick tube section 16 and the thintube section 18.

FIG. 1 (a) shows a state with the presser plate 20 separated from thetop end face 12 a, which is a natural state with no deformation applied.That is to say, FIG. 1 (a) indicates that when the presser plate 20 isremoved from the bellows type dispensing tip 11, the bellows 12 itselfis biased so that the bellows 12 expands until it has attained thisstate.

FIG. 1 (b) to FIG. 1 (d) show the states in order, where presser plate20 is further lowered while the presser plate 20 is contacted with thetop end face 12 a. For example, FIG. 1 (c) shows a position of thepresser plate 20 serving as a movable member in a state of being able toboth expand and contract the interior thereof due to the deformation ofthe bellows 12. This position is, for example, taken as a predeterminedreference position, and control is performed with this state as areference. Accordingly, FIG. 1 (b) shows a state where the bellows areexpanded beyond the reference position. In the control, this state (astate where the bellows 12 is slightly contracted) shows a state wherethe liquid is suctioned at the maximum level, that is, a predeterminedmaximum suction state.

Moreover, FIG. 1 (d) is a state where the presser plate 20 has beenlowered most, that is, a state where further contraction is no longerpossible. In this state, the bellows type dispensing tip 11 hasdischarged all of the liquid that has been suctioned in the state ofFIG. 1 (b). The reference position may be decided so that a state with amaximum suction of the liquid is a state where the bellow 12 is expandedto the position where the presser plate 20 is fully separated from thetop end face 12 a.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a cartridge container 21 according to asecond embodiment suitable for the bellows type dispensing tip 11. FIG.2 (a) is a side view showing a state where the thin tube section 18 ofthe bellows type dispensing tip 11 is inserted into a liquidaccommodating section 22 of the cartridge container 21, and FIG. 2 (b)is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge container 21.

The cartridge container 21 is such that the top end of each of four ofthe liquid accommodating sections 22 is attached to a region around eachof four holes 28 provided in an upper plate 23, and each liquidaccommodating section 22 projects downward from the lower side of theupper plate 23. The upper plate 23 is horizontally mounted on the upperside of a channel shaped container supporting frame 24, and twotransparent gauging side plates 25 are fitted on both sides of thecontainer supporting frame 24. In positions on the gauging side plate 25corresponding to the respective liquid accommodating sections 22, thereare provided scale marks 26 that indicate liquid levels. Furthermore, ina corner of each gauging side plate 25, there may be provided a gaugeidentification number 27 for identifying the gauging side plate 25. In aposition above the gauge identification number 27 there may be provideda region 27 a for placing a bar code indicating the gauge identificationnumber 27 or for placing a color code.

Next, a bellows type dispensing apparatus 10 according to a thirdembodiment is described, with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the bellows type dispensing apparatus 10according to the present embodiment. The bellows type dispensingapparatus 10 is such that on a stage 30, there are provided: adispensing head 70 that supports six of the bellows type dispensing tips11 for suctioning or discharging a liquid into or from each bellows typedispensing tip 11 by deforming the bellows 12 of the bellows typedispensing tip 11; a container set 31 having a plurality (six in thisexample) of reagent accommodating containers 32 capable of accommodatingvarious kinds of liquids, reagents, specimens and the like; and a headmoving section (44, 45, 46) for moving the dispensing head 70 withrespect to the container set 31. Reference symbol 30 a denotes asupporting member that supports the stage 30.

The dispensing head 70 serving as a tip supporting section that supportsa series of six of the bellows type dispensing tips 11, has thehorizontal supporting plate 19 having six supporting holes forsupporting the bellows type dispensing tips 11, and a verticalsupporting plate 19 a. The horizontal supporting plate 19 and thevertical supporting plate 19 a are formed by bending a single plate atright angles, and respective right angled triangle shaped members 19 b(FIG. 4) are attached so as to cover opposite side ends of the spacebetween the horizontal supporting plate 19 and the vertical supportingplate 19 a, thereby increasing the rigidity of the structure. Toopposite end side portions of the horizontal supporting plate 19, thereare attached the bottom end sections of two guide shafts 37, and the topend of each guide shaft 37 is attached to a tip securing upper plate 38of the dispensing head 70. On each guide shaft 37 there are fitted tubeshaped members 36 so as to be able to move vertically along the guideshaft 37. The tube shaped members 36 are connected to opposite ends ofthe presser plate 20 so as to maintain the presser plate 20 horizontal.

The presser plate 20 is respectively in contact with the top end face 12a of each of the six bellows type dispensing tips 11, and on the upperside of the presser plate 20 there is provided a rod shaped member 42that projects upward. The rod shaped member 42 is provided so as to passcompletely through a through hole 43 provided in the tip securing upperplate 38 to reach the upper side. The top end of the rod shaped member42 is slidably in contact with a disk cam 41 eccentrically attached to arotating disk 40. Rotation of the rotating disk 40 causes the rod shapedmember 42 in contact with the disk cam 41 to move in the verticaldirection, and consequently the presser plate 20 moves in the verticaldirection, deforming the bellows 12. Reference symbol 39 denotes a motorfor rotating the rotating disk 40. In this manner, in the presentembodiment, movement of the presser plate 20 in the vertical directionis performed by this cam mechanism (39, 40, 41, 42).

The dispensing head 70 has a horizontal protuberance 33 a on the lowerside of both of side plates of a frame body 33. The protuberance 33 a ismovably engaged with two rail members 46 b attached on the stage 30while being sandwiched by a number of ball bearings arranged in twostraight lines. The frame body 33 is attached to a belt 46 by an armmember 46 a. The belt 46 is provided such that a roller 45rotation-driven by a motor 44 provided on the stage 30 enables the belt46 to travel along the direction of the rail members 46 b. Thehorizontal supporting plate 19, the vertical supporting plate 19 a, thetip securing upper plate 38, and therefore the bellows type dispensingtip 11 are attached so as to be able to move vertically with respect tothe frame body 33.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the bellows type dispensing apparatus 10. Thisbellows type dispensing apparatus 10 has: a pinching tool 57 that, onthe upper side of the horizontal supporting plate 19 that secures thebellows type dispensing tip 11, pinches one peak at the bottom end ofthe bellows 12 of the bellows type dispensing tip 11 from above andbelow the peak so as to support the bellows type dispensing tip 11; anda pinching tool attachment rod 58 that attaches the pinching tool 57 tothe tip securing upper plate 38 and that is capable of adjusting thepinching position thereof. Accordingly, for the both-way deformation ofthe bellows type dispensing tip 11 in the case of performing a downwarddeformation to contract it and also in the case of expanding it upward,the position and the shape of the opening section 13 are not changed bythe deformation of the bellows 12.

The vertical supporting plate 19 a is attached to a vertical movementsupporting plate 50, and to the vertical movement supporting plate 50,there are rotatably attached four guiding rollers 51, 52. On the upperside of an upper plate 49 of the frame body 33, there is provided amotor 47 for vertically moving the vertical movement supporting plate50. There are further provided a roller 48 rotation-driven by the motor47 and a roller 54 provided on a lower plate 34, and a belt 56 spansbetween the roller 48 and the roller 54. The vertical movementsupporting plate 50 is attached to the belt 56, and moves verticallyaccording to the traveling movement of the belt 56.

The container set 31 has: the reagent accommodating containers 32accommodating reagents therein; a series of ten wells 60 capable ofaccommodating various kinds of liquid solutions; and a series of two tipaccommodating sections 61 capable of accommodating the bellows typedispensing tips 11, and it is provided so as to be fixed on the stage30.

Permanent magnets 35 are provided as magnetic devices so as to be ableto move toward and away from the bellows type dispensing tip 11. On thelower side of bearers that support the permanent magnets 35, there areprovided two rollers 63, so that the permanent magnets 35 are fittedinto channels along the left-right direction provided on the lower plate34 and can smoothly move in the left-right direction. The permanentmagnets 35 are driven by a stepping motor, the motor shaft of which canmove in the left-right direction in the drawing.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the bellows type dispensing apparatus 10. Thedispensing head 70 is capable of moving on the stage 30 in theleft-right direction along the rail members 46 b above the container set31.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the bellows type dispensing apparatus 10. Inthe center of the vertical movement supporting plate 50 there isprovided a belt attachment fixture 62 for attaching the verticalmovement supporting plate 50 onto the belt 56. Moreover, on both sidesof the vertical movement supporting plate 50 there are rotatablyprovided the respective guiding rollers 51 and 52 engaged with guidingrails 53 so as to guide the vertical movement of the vertical movementsupporting plate 50.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a bellows type dispensing apparatus 100 according toa fourth embodiment. Reference symbols the same as those for describingthe above bellows type dispensing apparatus 10, denote the samecomponents, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

The dispensing head 170 of the bellows type dispensing apparatus 100employs a link mechanism (64, 65, 66, 67, 68) instead of the cammechanism (39, 40, 41, 42) employed as a mechanism for performingdeformation of the bellows type dispensing tip 11 according to the thirdembodiment.

The bellows type dispensing apparatus 100 according to the fourthembodiment is such that the presser plate 20 is in contact respectivelywith the top end face 12 a of each of the six bellows type dispensingtips 11, and there are provided: a rod member 64 that projects upward onthe upper side of the presser plate 20; a crossbar pivot 65 provided onthe top end of the rod member 64; two link rods 66 that have one endrotatably connected to the pivot 65 and that are supported at supportingpoints 66 a provided on supporting rods 66 b; translation shafts 68capable of moving in the vertical direction with their tip endsrotatably connected to the other end of the link rod 66; and steppingmotors 67 for moving the translation shafts 68 in the verticaldirection. Thus, the presser plate 20 is moved in the verticaldirection.

FIG. 8 shows holders 71 and 72 according to fifth and sixth embodiments,into which the bellows type dispensing tips 11 can be loosely inserted.

The holder 71 according to the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 8 (a) hasan upper side opening section 73 provided on the upper side thereof, anda lower side opening section 74 for externally exposing the openingsection 13. The bellows type dispensing tip 11 is inserted through theupper side opening section 73 so as to be loosely inserted into theinterior of the holder 71. The holder 71 comprises a thick frame section75 and a thin frame section 76 provided on the lower side thereof, andthe lower side opening section 74 is provided on the tip end of the thinframe section 76. The thin frame section 76 engages with and supportsthe thin tube section 18 of the bellows type dispensing tip 11 so as toprevent wobbles of the thin tube section 18. In this case, deformationis performed by an insertion tool 77 that is attached to the presserplate 20 and can come into contact with the top end face of the bellowstype dispensing tip 11 through the upper side opening section 73 of theholder 71.

The holder 72 according to the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 8 (b) hasan upper side opening section 78 provided on the upper side thereof, anda lower side opening section 79 for externally exposing the openingsection 13 of the bellows type dispensing tip 11. The bellows typedispensing tip 11 is inserted through the upper side opening section 78so as to be loosely inserted into the interior of the holder 72. Theholder 72 comprises a thick frame section 83 having a slit 80 providedin the side face thereof, and a thin frame section 81 provided on thelower side thereof, and the lower side opening section 79 is provided onthe tip end of the thin frame section 81. The thin frame section 81engages with and supports the thin tube section 18 of the bellows typedispensing tip 11 so as to prevent wobbles of the thin tube section 18.In this case, deformation is performed by an insertion tool 82 that isattached to the presser plate 20 and can come into contact with the topend face of the bellows type dispensing tip 11 through the slit 80provided in the side face of the thick frame section 83.

With use of these holders 71 and 72, it is possible to prevent movementof the opening section 13, while preventing unwanted deformation in theshape of the bellows type dispensing tip 11, and securing the bellowstype dispensing tip 11. Moreover, since the deformation of the bellowstype dispensing tip 11 is guided along the axial direction by theholders 71 and 72, it is possible to have smooth deformation, to haveregularity in the deformation of the bellows type dispensing tip 11, andto obtain an accurate internal capacity according to the degree ofdeformation to be performed.

Next, a bellows type dispensing tip 111 according to a seventhembodiment is described based on FIG. 9. FIG. 9 (a) is an enlargedsectional view of the bellows type dispensing tip 111, and FIG. 9 (b) isa perspective view thereof. The bellows type dispensing tip 111 is suchthat there are provided: a substantially cylindrical shaped longitudinalaccommodating section (114, 115) having an axis thereof along thevertical direction, that is capable of accommodating a liquid or gaswithin the interior thereof surrounded by a substantially cylindricalshaped wall face, and that has a bellows 112 serving as a deformabledeforming wall face in a portion of the wall face; and an openingsection 113 surrounding the axis thereof at the bottom end of theaccommodating section, that communicates with the accommodating section(114, 115) and that enables inflow and outflow therethrough of a liquidsuctioned or discharged by deformation of the bellows 112.

The bellows 112 is provided in a portion of the wall face of theaccommodating section (114, 115) so as to separate the wall face into anupper portion and lower portion, while being capable of deforming itselfin the vertical deformation direction. Respective peaks (four peaks inthis example) and valleys (five valleys in this example) of the waveformor folds of the bellows 112 are formed perpendicular to the abovevertical direction, and each of the valleys and peaks forms acircumference in each of their horizontal planes. The accommodatingsection (114, 115) has a deforming section 114 having the bellows 112and capable of accommodating a gas, and a non-deforming section 115 thatcommunicates with the deforming section 114, that does not have thebellows 112 as the deforming wall face, that has the opening section 113on the tip end thereof, and that is capable of accumulating a liquidtherein.

A top end face 112 a on the top end of the deforming section 114 isprovided so as to be able to come in contact with a presser plate 120that corresponds to a movable member of a dispensing head 270 of abellows type dispensing apparatus 110 described later, on which thebellows type dispensing tip 111 is supported, and it is moved verticallyby the vertical movement of the presser plate 120 so that the bellows112 expands and contracts in the vertical direction. A lower section 112b of the deforming section 114 does not deform by expansion orcontraction of the bellows 112.

The non-deforming section 115 has: a substantially cylindrical shapedthick tube section 116 that communicates with the deforming section 114and that connects to the lower section 112 b on the upper side thereof;a substantially cylindrical shaped thin tube section 118 having theopening section 113 on the bottom end thereof; and a funnel shapedtransitional section 117 that connects between the thick tube section116 and the thin tube section 118.

The transitional section 117, on the upper side thereof, has a fittingsection 117 c to be inserted and fitted into and held in each ofsubstantially tapered through holes 123 provided in a plate of a rack121 serving as a tip arrangement holding section described later, and onthe lower side of the transitional section 117, there is provided aninterior detection region 117 a sandwiched by parallel transparent flatplate side faces. Furthermore, at the bottom end section of thetransitional section 117, there is provided a socket shaped section 117b into which the top end section of the separately provided thin tubesection 118 is fitted and attached with use of an adhesive or by meansof thermal welding or ultrasonic welding.

The transitional section 117 includes a complex shape such as that ofthe interior detection region 117 a. However the deforming section 114,the thick tube section 116 and the transitional section 117 may beintegrally formed by means of blow molding. Moreover, the thin tubesection 118 may be rigidly formed by means of injection molding, andconnected to the transitional section at the socket shaped section 117b. Since there is provided the interior detection region 117 a, it ispossible to detect the state inside the thin tube section by measuringthe light passing therethrough as a result of irradiating a light beamin a direction normal to the transparent flat plate side faces.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing a state of a rack 121 accordingto an eighth embodiment serving as the tip arrangement holding sectionhaving the bellows type dispensing tips 111 arranged therein in a gridhaving 12 columns and 8 rows at predetermined intervals, beingdetachably mounted on a rack supporting base 126 provided on theaforementioned container set. The rack 121 has a plate 122 in which thethrough holes 123 are arranged in a grid having 12 columns and 8 rows.Each of the through holes 123 is provided in a tapered shape so as tofit with the fitting section 117 c of the transitional section 117 ofthe bellows type dispensing tip 111. In a state of being held in each ofthe through holes 123, the thin tube section 118 of each of the bellowstype dispensing tips 111 and the interior detection region 117 arepositioned below the plate 122, and the bellows 112 is positioned abovethe plate 122. The interior of the rack supporting base 126 ispartitioned into a plurality of chambers in columns and rows bypartitioning walls 126 a so that the thin tube sections 118 do not comeinto contact with each other.

Moreover, in four corners around each of the bellows type dispensingtips 111, there are respectively provided four rods 125, the height ofwhich corresponds to the bellows type dispensing tip 111 in anon-deformed state, in the upward direction from the upper side of thetop face of the plate 122, allowing loose insertion of each bellows typedispensing tip 111. These four rods 125 correspond to the looseinsertion section in the claims. Thus, the deformation direction of thebellows type dispensing tip 111 is controlled so as to be maintained inthe vertical direction, thereby maintaining its constant deformingpattern. On the upper side and lower side of the plate 122, there areprovided attachment grooves 124 along both edge sections of the plate122 for attaching a dispensing head 270 described later.

FIG. 11 (a) is a plan view of the rack 121. The through holes 123 arearranged at predetermined intervals in a grid having 12 columns and 8rows. FIG. 11 (b) is a plan view of a rack 221. Through holes 223 arearranged in a grid having 24 columns and 16 rows at intervals narrowerthan those of the rack 121. In the respective through holes 223, thereare respectively provided four rods 225 serving as the loose insertionsection.

FIG. 12 shows the bellows type dispensing apparatus 110 according to theeighth embodiment in a state with the bellows type dispensing tips 111attached.

The bellows type dispensing apparatus 110 is provided with: a dispensinghead 270 that supports the bellows type dispensing tips 111 in a gridhaving 12 columns and 8 rows, by attaching the rack 121 thereon, andthat performs suction and discharge of a liquid into and from thebellows type dispensing tips 111 when the bellows 112 are deformed; acontainer set 131 having a plurality of reagent accommodating containers132 capable of accommodating various kinds of liquids, reagents, andspecimens; and a head shifting section (not shown in the drawing) thatmoves the dispensing head 270 with respect to the container set 131.

The dispensing head 270 is provided with two attachment supportingmembers 119 that respectively fit and attach the rack 121 having thethrough holes 123 in 12 columns and 6 rows and holding the bellows typedispensing tips 111, to attachment grooves provided on both edgesections of the rack 121. These two attachment supporting members 119correspond to the tip supporting sections. These two attachmentsupporting members 119 are provided along the lower edge section of abox shaped frame body 133. Therefore, the plate 122 of the rack 121 isprovided so as to close off the opening section on the lower side of theframe body 133.

Within the frame body 133, there is provided a partitioning plate 138that partitions the interior of the frame body 133 in the horizontaldirection. The presser plate 120 that serves as a movable member fordeforming the bellows 112 on the top end face 112 a of each bellows typedispensing tip 111 is provided at the bottom end of a supporting plate120 a provided so as to pass through each gap 120 b provided in thepartitioning plate 138, and the supporting plate 120 a is supported by adriving member 143. The driving member 143 is slidably guided, on bothside portions thereof, by two guide shafts 137, and in the middleportion thereof, it is connected to a nut section screwed on a ballscrew 141, thereby vertically moving in synchronization with thevertical movement of the nut section due to rotation of the ball screw141. Reference symbol 139 denotes a motor that rotation-drives the ballscrew 141, and reference symbol 140 denotes a shaft thereof.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13, below the rack 121 of the dispensinghead 270 there is provided a magnetic device 135 for exerting a magneticforce on the accommodating section 115 of the bellows type dispensingtip 111. The magnetic device 135 is provided so as to be able torelatively move in the row direction of the bellows type dispensing tips111 arranged in a grid (with 12 columns and 8 rows in this example), andhas: a total number (number of columns+1) of comb teeth members 135 athat extend in the row direction and are provided at the above mentionedpredetermined intervals of the rack 121, among which (number ofcolumns−1; 11 in this example) of them excluding the two on both sideends are provided with widths that enable insertion between the abovementioned columns; and a supporting member 135 c that is connected toone end of each of the comb teeth members 135 a, so as to form anoverall comb shape. On the comb teeth members 135 a there are providedmagnets as many as the number of rows (8 in this example) arranged atthe predetermined intervals, in positions corresponding to therespective bellows type dispensing tips 111.

Furthermore, in the dispensing head 270, there is provided below therack 121 and above the magnetic device 135 a light detection section 150that transmits a light beam through the interior detection region 117 aof each bellows type dispensing tip 111 for detecting the state of theinterior. As shown in FIG. 13, the light detection section 150 isprovided so as to be able to move relatively in the row direction of thebellows type dispensing tips 111 arranged in a grid (12 columns and 8rows in this example), and has a total number (number of columns+1; 13in this example) of comb teeth members 151 that extend in the rowdirection and are provided at the predetermined intervals, among which(number of columns−1; 11 in this example) of them excluding the two onboth end sides are provided with widths that enable insertion betweenthe columns, so as to form an overall comb shape. On the opposing facesof the comb teeth members 151 adjacent to each other in close proximityto the tip ends of the comb teeth members 151, there are respectivelyprovided light emitting/light receiving section pairs 152 opposing eachother so as to be on both sides of the interior detection region 117 a.The light detection section 150 sequentially moves along the rowdirection to perform detection at once of the interiors of the bellowstype dispensing tips 111 in twelve columns. At this time, the lightdetection section 150 may be able to move along a rail provided alongthe row direction on the plane face on the upper side of the magneticdevice 135.

The respective embodiments described above are to give concretedescriptions of the present invention for better understanding, and arenot to be considered as limiting other embodiments. Therefore,modifications may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention. For example, deformation is performed mainly with the bellowsin the above embodiments. However, the invention can also be realizedwith use of a deformation wall face in a shape other than a bellowsshape, or with use of an elastic body such as rubber for the material ofthe deformation wall face, for example. Moreover, the shape of thebellows type dispensing tip is not limited to the shape described above,and it may have steps in the transitional section and may have steps insections other than the transitional section.

Furthermore, the tip arrangement holding section is not limited to thearrangement described above, and a number such as 4, 6, 8, 12, 96, and384 of the dispensing tips may be arranged in one column, in a grid, orin another shape.

Moreover, in the opening section of the thin tube section of the bellowstype dispensing tip, there may be further fitted a small diameter shorttube made of stainless steel or the like, to increase the level ofdispensing precision.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A bellows type dispensing tip, a bellows type dispensing apparatus, anda method of bellows type dispensing processing according to the presentinvention relates to all kinds of fields in which various kinds ofliquid solution processing are required, such as the industrial field,the agricultural field including food, agricultural production, seafoodprocessing, the pharmaceutical field, the medical field involvinghygiene, healthcare, immunity, pathology, and genetics, and thechemistry or biological science field. In particular, the presentinvention is effective when continuously executing a series of processesusing a number of reagents and substances in a predetermined order.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory drawing showing a bellows type dispensing tipand operation thereof according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a suitable container for a bellows typedispensing tip according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a bellows type dispensing apparatus accordingto a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the bellows type dispensing apparatus accordingto the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the bellows type dispensing apparatus accordingto the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the bellows type dispensing apparatus accordingto the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a bellows type dispensing apparatus accordingto a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a drawing showing a holder according to fifth and sixthembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a bellows type dispensing tip according to aseventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a rack having bellows typedispensing tips arranged therein according to an eighth embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the rack according to the eighthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a bellows type dispensing apparatusaccording to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the bellows type dispensingapparatus according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

1. A bellows type dispensing tip comprising: an accommodating sectionthat is capable of accommodating a liquid or gas in the interior thereofsurrounded by a wall face and that has a deforming wall face in oneportion of said wall face, capable of predetermined deformation withoutpractically changing a total internal surface area of the wall face; andan opening section that is communicated with said accommodating sectionand that enables inflow and outflow of a liquid suctioned/discharged byexpansion and contraction of said interior caused by deformation of saiddeforming wall face, and that can be inserted into a container capableof accommodating various kinds of liquid solutions, wherein: saidopening section is provided at a bottom end of the bellows typedispensing tip; said deforming wall face is formed in one portion of thewall face surrounding said accommodating section so as to be able todeform in the vertical direction; and said accommodating section has; adeforming section capable of accommodating a gas, that is provided abovesaid opening section, and that has said deforming wall face, and anon-deforming section capable of accumulating a liquid, thatcommunicates with said deforming section, that does not have saiddeforming wall face, and that has said opening section on a tip end,said non-deforming section has: a thick tube section that communicateswith said deforming section; a thin section having said opening section;and a transitional section formed between said thick tube section andsaid thin tube section, and said thick tube section, said deformingsection, and said transitional section are integrally formed, and a topend section of said thin tube section is fitted to a bottom end sectionof said transitional section, and attached by bonding or welding, andsaid thin tube section is formed from a member that is harder than saidthick tube section, said deforming section, and said transitionalsection.
 2. A bellows type dispensing tip according to claim 1, furtherhaving a holder for loose insertion and holding of said accommodatingsection, and said holder has an upper side opening section provided onan upper side thereof and a lower side opening section that enables saidopening section to be externally exposed.
 3. A bellows type dispensingtip according to claim 1, wherein said non-deforming section is providedwith an interior detection region interposed between transparent flatplate side faces parallel with each other.
 4. A method of bellows typedispensing processing comprising: a supporting step for supporting aplurality of bellows type dispensing tips having; an accommodatingsection that is capable of accommodating a liquid or gas in the interiorthereof surrounded by a wall face, and that has a deforming wall face ina portion of said wall face, capable of a predetermined deformationwithout practically changing an entire surface area of the wall face,and an opening section communicated with said accommodating section,through which liquid to be suctioned/discharged can flow in and flow outdue to expansion and contraction of said interior caused by deformationof the deforming wall face, on a dispensing head so that said openingsection does not move due to deformation of said deforming wall face; amoving step for moving said dispensing head; and a deforming step forinserting said opening section into a container of a container set anddeforming said deforming wall face at once, wherein said deforming stepsets a predetermined reference position for deformation of saiddeforming wall face, and deforms said deforming wall face, taking thereference position as a reference, and said predetermined referenceposition is determined based on at least one factor selected from; anamount of a liquid to be handled in processing, a capacity of thebellows type dispensing tip to be used, processing contents, andfinishing precision of the bellows type dispensing tip.
 5. A method ofbellows type dispensing processing according to claim 4, wherein saidsupporting step is performed by attaching a tip arrangement holdingsection capable of detachably holding a plurality of said bellows typedispensing tips arranged in a line or in a plane face at predeterminedintervals, to the dispensing head while allowing each of said bellowstype dispensing tips to deform.
 6. A method of bellows type dispensingprocessing according to claim 5 wherein: said opening section isprovided at a bottom end of the bellows type dispensing tip; saiddeforming wall face is provided in a portion of a wall face surroundingsaid accommodating section so as to be able to deform in the verticaldirection; said accommodating section has; a deforming section capableof accommodating a gas, that is provided above said opening section, andthat has said deforming wall face, and a non-deforming section capableof accumulating a liquid, that communicates with said deforming section,that does not have said deforming wall face, and that has said openingsection; and said deforming step has a step for contacting or connectinga movable member with or to a top end face of said accommodatingsection, and a step for lowering and/or raising said movable member. 7.A method of bellows type dispensing processing according to claim 6,wherein raising and lowering of said movable member is performed bysetting a predetermined reference position along the vertical directionin which said deforming wall face is deformed, and then using thereference position as a reference.
 8. A method of bellows typedispensing processing according to claim 4, wherein in said liquid, amagnetic material that can bond with a predetermined substance or thathas been bonded with a predetermined substance is suspended, and saidmagnetic material is attached to an inner wall of said accommodatingsection or said container and separated, by exerting a magnetic field onsaid accommodating section or a container of said container set.
 9. Abellows type dispensing apparatus comprising: one or two or more bellowstype dispensing tips having; an accommodating section that is capable ofaccommodating a liquid or gas in the interior thereof surrounded by awall face, and that has a deforming wall face in a portion of said wallface, capable of predetermined deformation without practically changingan entire surface area of the wall face, and an opening sectioncommunicated with said accommodating section, through which a liquid tobe suctioned/discharged can flow in and flow out due to expansion andcontraction of said interior caused by deformation of said deformingwall face; a dispensing head that supports one or two or more of thebellows type dispensing tips so that said opening section does not movedue to deformation of said deforming wall face, and that performssuction/discharge of the liquid into or from said bellows typedispensing tip at once, by deforming said deforming wall face of saidbellows type dispensing tip at once, a container set having a pluralityof containers capable of accommodating various kinds of liquidsolutions, and a head moving section that relatively moves saiddispensing head with respect to said container set, and having a controlsection that controls deformation of said deforming wall face and/ormovement between said dispensing head and the container set, based onthe number or structure of said bellows type dispensing tip, a liquid tobe suctioned/discharged, a substance contained in the liquid, an amount,an accommodating position, a temperature or concentration of the liquid,processing contents, or instructions.
 10. A method of bellows typedispensing processing comprising: a supporting step for supporting twoor more bellows type dispensing tips having; an accommodating sectionthat is capable of accommodating a liquid or gas in the interior thereofsurrounded by a wall face, and that has a deforming wall face in aportion of said wall face, capable of a predetermined deformationwithout practically changing an entire surface area of the wall face,and an opening section communicated with said accommodating section,through which liquid to be suctioned/discharged can flow in and flow outdue to expansion and contraction of said interior caused by deformationof the deforming wall face, on a dispensing head so that said openingsection does not move due to deformation of said deforming wall face; amoving step for relatively moving said dispensing head with respect tosaid container set; and a deforming step for inserting said openingsection into a container of the container set and deforming saiddeforming wall face at once, and in said deforming step and said movingstep, deformation of said deforming wall face and/or movement betweensaid dispensing head and the container set, is controlled based on thenumber or structure of said bellows type dispensing tip, a liquid to besuctioned/discharged, a substance contained in the liquid, an amount, anaccommodating position, a temperature or concentration of the liquid,processing contents, or instructions.